Lock-in electrical jack assembly

ABSTRACT

A lock-in electrical jack assembly for utilization with a communications system adapted for interlocking engagement with a mating component and having an integral push-button for disengaging the interlock for removal of the components.

[4 1 June 6, 1972 rn m Pla a e S Y D [54] LOCK-IN ELECTRICAL JACK ASSEMBLY [72] inventor: William H. Flanagan, Stamford, Conn.

Assignee: Nexus, Inc., Stamford, Conn. Primary Examinerj9seph McGlynn Att0rney-.lames B. Tlfiany, Jr. Aug. 27, 1970 22 Filed:

ABSTRACT Appl. No.:

A lock-in electrical jack assembly for utilization with a com- .339/74 R, 339/253 R munications system adapted for interlocking engagement with a mating component and having an integral push-button for disengaging the interlock for removal of the components 51 Im. ...I-l0lr 13/62 [58] Field ofSearch .....H.............339/74, 75, 253, 254, 95 D 3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS PATENTEDJUN 81972 SHEET 10F 4 INVENTOR WILLIAM H. FLANAGAN a? FIG. 2

ATTORNEY PATENTEnJun 6 m2 SHEET 2 OF 4 INYENTOR WILLIAM H. FLANAGAN mm AT TORNEY PATENTEUJUH 6 m2 3,668,610

sum 30F 4 INVENTOR WILLIAM H. FLANAGAN ATTORNEY PATENTEDJUH 6 m2 SHEET 4 UF 4 INYENTOR WILLIAM H. FLANAGAN 8Y9 .Tm L

ATTORNEY LOCK-IN ELECTRICAL JACK ASSEMBLY This invention relates generally to electrical devices and in particular to a microphone jack which will permit the jack to be interlocked into engagement with a male plug and having a push-button disengagement.

l-Ieretofore in the communications industry the engagement of mating electrical components was maintained by simple frictional involvement between the male and female elements. This was essential due to the necessity of breaking the contact between the components for specific purposes, such as with head sets and microphone assemblies However, difficulties have been experienced with pure frictional interlocks in that the electrical contact is not always maintained and that the engagement of the components are likely to be accidently disassembled when in use. Since the ease of assembly and disassembly is of paramount importance, locking features such as set screw assemblies and the like have proved to be unnecessarily complicated and require use of special tools to accomplish their purpose.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a unique, novel and useful electrical jack assembly, whereby ease in assembly and disassembly may be accomplished yet incorporating a locking feature.

It is another object of this invention to provide an electrical jack assembly, which is adapted for use with existing communications equipment.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a miniaturized locking electrical jack assembly, having a push-button for disengagement from a male plug.

Other objects of this invention will in part by obvious, and will in part, appear hereinafter.

Broadly stated, one feature of this invention is to provide a communications microphone jack assembly, having internal wiring connected to the microphone or headset and adapted to be locked into engagement with the corresponding male plug and disengaged by a pushbutton to release the interlock.

To the accomplishment of this and the foregoing related ends, the present invention then consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain means in the carrying out of the invention, such disclosed means illustrating however, but one of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of the microphone connector assembly.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view in section of the female component of the assembly.

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of the upper half of the housmg.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the female component of the assembly, in the inverted position.

FIG. 5 is a view in section taken on Line 5 5 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is an end view, partly in section of the female com ponent.

FIG. 7 is a view in perspective illustrating the interior configuration of the housing.

FIG. 8 is a cut-away view of the female component illustrating assembly details.

Reference is now to be had to the drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the electrical jack assembly, a construction made in accordance with the present invention and designated by the reference numeral 10 is shown. The connector assembly 10 comprises a male plug 12 adapted for cooperative sliding engagement with a female jack 14, as illustrated in FIG. 1. As shown in FIGS. 2 4 the female jack, wherein the essence of this invention lies comprise upper and lower molded housings 16-18 adapted to be superposed upon each other after the installation of the components and wiring having a peripheral groove 20 at the midline of each housing for snap engagement with an inwardly protruding ridge 22 formed on the exterior casing 24 which telescopically envelopes each component.

The female jack comprises a pair of laterally spaced contact members 26 each having a walled tubular opening 28 maintained in position so that the outer distal end 30 flush with the edge of the housing 32 by means of a vertically extending flange 34 positioned against the inner wall 36 of the housing. The remainder of each contact member 26 consist of a rearwardly extending base 38, side wall 40, rear wall 42, and upper surface 44, defining a solder receptacle 46. However, one of the major features of this invention is the provision of a latch member 48 integral with and obliquely extending rearwardly from the vertically extending flange 34 and adapted for cooperative engagement with the ridge 50 immediately adjacent the ball 52 of the pale pin contact 54 upon full insertion within the female contact. Tab members 56 are fomied on each of the latch members 48 and extend toward each other but spaced therefrom for a purpose to be set forth move fully hereinafter.

A pushbutton 58 comprising a shank 60 with a portion extending through an aperture 62 in the housing 16 and a similar aperture 64 in the casing with an inner distal end 66 having a diameter to span the lateral distance between the tab members 56 and in axial contact with their upper surfaces 68.

A bifurcated strain relief post 70 is molded integral with and extends from the lower surface of the bottom housing 18 and is adapted to receive the knotted end 72 of the strain relief cord 74 of the cable 76. The end 78 of the cable 76 has an ogee ring 80 positioned thereon and adapted to lie in a preformed recess 82 within each half of the housing 16 and 18. The electrical leads 84 and 86 extend within the housing for fixed engagement with the solder receptacles 46.

In the operation of the jack, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the female contact members 26 are formed of a conductive resilient material so as to bias the pushbutton 58 in an upward direction. Upon insertion of the pairs of male pin contacts 54 into the female contact members 26, the ball connector 52 engages the surface of the latch member 48, depressing them downwardly to allow passage of the ball and upon full insertion therein resiliently snap upwardly into the ridge 50 with the leading edge 88 bearing against the rear surface of the ridge 50. In this manner, the male connectors 52 cannot be withdrawn or dislodged from the female contacts and provides an effective interlock between the male and female connectors. To withdraw the male connector, axial pressure applied to the pushbutton as it extends through the housing aperture 16 and the casing aperture 64 causes the distal end 66 to exert pressure on the upper surface 68 of the tab members 56 and due to their resilient nature deflects the leading edge 88 downwardly out of contact with the rear surface of the ridge 50 of the ball connector 52. Simultaneously, therewith, lateral pressure exerted on the male component 12 will allow simple and easy withdrawal of male component 12 from the female component 14 to effectuate the electrical disconnect.

While there has been described herein what are at present considered preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention. It is therefore, to be understood that the exemplary embodiments are illustrative and are not restructive of the invention, the scone of which is defined in the appended claims, and that all modifications that come within the meaning and of equivalency of the claims are intended to be included therein.

What is claimed is 1. An electrical connector assembly including housings containing male and female components, the male component having an electrical contact extending from one end thereof, said contact having an annular groove adjacent the outer end thereof, the female component having an integrally formed electrical contact having walled means to receive the male contact at one end thereof, said walled means including a vertically positioned flange disposed within the housing, a latch member integral therewith and extending obliquely toward the center line of the female contact with the free end thereof positively interengaged with the annular groove of the male contact upon insertion within the female contact, a tab member extending laterally from said latch member, and pushbutton means extending through the female housing and having the inner distal end thereof in axial abutting relation with a surface of said tab member, whereby axial pressure on said tab member by said pushbutton means will disengage the latch member from the annular groove of said male contact.

2. A female electrical connector for locking engagement with a male connector having a male electrical contact extending from one end thereof and provided with an annular groove adjacent the outer end thereof comprising, a molded housing, a resilient female electrical contact disposed within said housing and having walled means to receive said male electrical contact therein, a vertically extending flange adjacent said walled means and having a latch member integral therewith and extending obliquely toward the center line of the female contact with the free end thereof in locking engagement with the annular groove of the male contact upon insertion of the male contact within the female Contact, a tab member extending laterally from said latch member within said housing and having one surface in abutting relation with a first end of a pushbutton extending normally thereto, the other end of said pushbutton extending through said housing, whereby axial pressure on said tab member by said pushbutton will depress the latch member out of engagement with the groove in said male contactv 3. The female electrical connector of claim 2, including a plurality of female electrical contacts disposed within said housing parallel to and adjacent each other and wherein the tab members of each female contact extend in the direction of each other in spaced relationship and wherein said pushbutton is in contact with both said tab members simultaneously 

1. An electrical connector assembly including housings containing male and female components, the male component having an electrical contact extending from one end thereof, said contact having an annular groove adjacent the outer end thereof, the female component having an integrally formed electrical contact having walled means to receive the male contact at one end thereof, said walled means including a vertically positioned flange disposed within the housing, a latch member integral therewith and extending obliquely toward the center line of the female contact with the free end thereof positively interengaged with the annular groove of the male contact upon insertion within the female contact, a tab member extending laterally from said latch member, and pushbutton means extending through the female housing and having the inner distal end thereof in axial abutting relation with a surface of said tab member, whereby axial pressure on said tab member by said pushbutton means will disengage the latch member from the annular groove of said male contact.
 2. A female electrical connector for locking engagement with a male connector having a male electrical contact extending from one end thereof and provided with an annular groove adjacent the outer end thereof comprising, a molded housing, a resilient female electrical contact disposed within said housing and having walled means to receive said male electrical contact therein, a vertically extending flange adjacent said walled means and having a latch member integral therewith and extending obliquely toward the center line of the female contact with the free end thereof in locking engagement with the annular groove of the male contact upon insertion of the male contact within the female contact, a tab member extending laterally from said latch member within said housing and having one surface in abutting relation with a first end of a pushbutton extending normally thereto, the other end of said pushbutton extending through said housing, whereby axial pressure on said tab member by said pushbutton will depress the latch member out of engagement with the groove in said male contact.
 3. The female electrical connector of claim 2, including a plurality of female electrical contacts disposed within said housing parallel to and adjacent each other and wherein the tab members of each female contact extend in the direction of each other in spaced relationship and wherein said pushbutton is in contact with both said tab members simultaneously. 